Background
Design review with a set of design standards or guidelines has proven to be an effective community development tool. The City of Tacoma understands the role of design review in community building: throughout the One Tacoma Plan and Tacoma 2025, policy guidance highlights design review as opportunity to create unique places, promote innovation and quality, and imbue public space with features and amenities that promote the health and vitality of residents and visitors.
In 2016, the City contracted with Makers Architecture and Urban Design to examine a number of “design review” options that Tacoma could undertake. The analysis is based on Tacoma’s current regulatory framework, recent development trends, comments from stakeholders (including staff, public officials, architects and others from the development industry, and other community members), and a review of other communities’ design review programs.
This Design Review Analysis Manual is organized into six sections to consider and discuss fundamental questions that must be considered in establishing a design review process:
- Design guidelines content, organization and format;
- Applicability: What projects must undergo design review;
- Project review responsibilities: Who conducts the design review for different types of projects;
- Public involvement: Opportunities for citizen review and input;
- Design Review Board (DRB) review process and procedures (if a DRB is established);
- Design review program administration costs.
Review the full Design Review Analysis Manual for the report and background information.
2022
For the winter and spring quarters of 2022, the Urban Design Studio staff are re-establishing working relationships on Design Review with a Project Advisory Group, Planning Commission and City Council. Work will continue with input from diverse city staff perspectives to refine and complete the draft design guidance documents, including an emphasis on addressing the City’s adopted Climate Adaptation Strategy.
2021
Staff worked briefly with Consultant and Project Advisory Group to further develop draft design guidance documents in the first part of the year. Planning Commission and Infrastructure Planning and Sustainability Committee of the City Council reviewed progress on incomplete, draft guidance documents. Project went on hold with loss of initial staff. In late 2021, new lead staff came on board.
2020
Project team worked with advisory groups (Project Advisory Group, TAC, Planning Commission), resulting in an Interim Summary Report (available for review below in the documents section). It provides the findings from Phase I of the program development and the background information that informed the remaining development through to implementation.
2019
Consultants were brought on to develop a work plan and initiate the program development. Staff worked with stakeholder committees and conducted public outreach in the summer and fall.
2018
Staff was hired to bring additional expertise to the project.
2017
Project budget was approved by the City Council.
2016
The Design Review Analysis Manual was completed to identify the key components and options for a design review program.